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breeder question

I have a 10 year old Shiba-Inu, she will be 11 before she goes into heat again though. Around demember by my calculations. She is Canadian KC regestered, and has been bred before, she whelped very easily. She was never showen, due to a fear of hights, they are a tabled breed, she has been evaluated by several judges at shows whenI was showing my male, and is a nice representation of the breed.

I know she is not perfect as she is fine boned, but she has wonderful markings with darker tan. Her bloodlines date to some of the first Shibas imported into North America, her grandmother on her dams side is the closest. I would have the health testings done again of course.

She was only bred 2 times the first was a planned breeding at 2 the second was accidental with my male, resulting in only 1 pup,I cought them, through a kennel door, but they were back to back heats. I know, I learned. My male is neutered because of epilepsy and their pup is fine, just a fluke thing, no epilepsy in his family, and none since him either.

I have not breed her since because I could not find a male that I loved, well I found one, a Black and Tan just like her, very nice bone, good coloring as well. But due to the lenth of time between litters I would like some other opinions. I have 6+ months before I need to make the decision, I am not going to jump into this. Please read and give your opinions. Thnak You, sorry long winded.

There is no way I would breed an 11 year old dog, I don't care about the quality of the male or the female. Whelping puppies takes a HUGE toll on the body, think about how thin and strained even young females in perfect health are and look about 3-4 weeks after whelping. I think you would be greatly shortening her life and health by breeding her.

I personally have never bred a bitch past six. However there was a recent 'heated' debate amongst show boxer people on a e-mail circle. Boxers have short lifespans complaired to most other breeds. There was talk that perhaps people should look in to breeding older healthy dogs because they were healthy and had logevity. Bitches PAST 6, dogs past 9.

Particularly studs/males where it really doesn't take too much out of them :) If a Champion male boxer has reached 10-11 I would love to pass on that genetic material and it would be to better the breed.

I also won't breed females past six. The older they get, they higher the risk of complications get and you would really be gambling with her life at that point. My recommendation would be, if you like the male, to find a pup from him and a nice bitch.

Average life span of a Boxer varies by what information you go by. Some say 8-10 others say 10-12. Actually from the info I have read it varies statisically from year to year.

Besides heart problems, they have serious cancer issues that they really can't test for genetically, because it is not a genetics only issue. There are environmental factors and just too much unknown about cancer for people and dogs.

I dont agree with STARTING to breed a bitch after six however, regardless of who 'OK's it... and for me, 11 would definately be WAY too old whether first or subsequent litters. (Although Frau Stockman did it several times from what I can remember from her book.)

Breeding an older dog DEFINATELY hinges on THAT particular dogs condition, health, and what they had produced when they were younger.

Lets not give poor breeders an excuse to breed older dogs - I think only a dog who had produced puppies with serious merit should be considered for repeat breedings, whether dogs or bitches.

I am not endorsing breeding an older bitch. I am merely stating what happened when I was a young girl.

We had a 13 y/o poodle. I don't remember her size but she wasn't a standard. My dad had bred her and then retired her due to age, but I didn't remember any of her previous litters. We also had a toy poodle stud who refused to breed any bitch except this one, so he was a pet, nothing more. Wasn't neutered cause back then it wasn't an issue like it is today. Dad thought she was WAY past her fertile years. I think she stopped cycling, I don't remember, anyway, one day my mom and I came home from shopping and couldn't find her. Her name was Guseppia and we called her Juicy. we looked high and low and finally found her in the basement on a bunch of rags WITH A LITTER.... So it does happen and yes Juicy was fine and we found good homes for all the puppies, but it was a freak of nature. Personally I am sitting on the fence, cause you might want a pup from her since she won't be around forever, but I think I wouldn't.

No way, too old! 11 is way too old to be having pups! All of our females stop being bred at age 6, no exceptions, and only ever have 2-3 litters in their lifetime. Once they reach an age past 6, their muscle tone is longer as capable of handling labor and to have the tone required to push pups out. She will very likely be a c-section if bred at 11 yrs old. For her sake, I would not, thats like asking my grandma to have a baby, lol. IMO

Again I have never bred a bitch past 6 and I don't want to start any crap, I am just asking a question, and I wonder if any one knows. Okay, I think it was just on a thread earlier that horses are bred well in to their late twenties which is near the end of their life span and many if not most actually do fine (though I am sure it is hard on them).

I never have nor would breed a mare past 19, because I was always taught it is not good for them. Why is it different for dogs? Is there truely the aweful health concerns or is it that people feel it is wrong to risk their beloved family member?

As others have kind of said, it does happen. Some times on accident and the dogs make due. If it wasn't meant to happen in nature then dogs would have a menopause.

Not saying she should, but if she found a reproductive specialist who okayed the breeding and scheduled a c-and spay right off the bat, would it be that bad? She said that these may be lines that can not be replicated for the breed.

I would not risk my bitch personally, but I know nothing about this breed. Is this a breed where it would truely benifit the entire breed as a whole to continue that line? Why did Ruffian wait so long? If the breeding was so important, why such a long wait to breed the bitch between litters?

Not saying she should, but if she found a reproductive specialist who okayed the breeding and scheduled a c-and spay right off the bat, would it be that bad? She said that these may be lines that can not be replicated for the breed.

Nope, still wouldnt approve. Let her retire now.

And the horse issue.....I bred horse for a short time, the last foal being 5 1/2 yrs old now. I have to say, that NO, I would not breed a horse that late in life either. Granted they can be bred for a longer period than dogs, but never would I in their 20's....just my opinion.

I agree with all of you, but I just moved to a new town and the vet I was going to said that she would be fine. I never posed the question to him, he asked me. I am going to find a different vet here though. He said as long as she was still the the same physical condition as she is in now that she would be fine. Thank you all for your honest answers.